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The Volkswagen brand at a glance
The Volkswagen brand is one of the world’s largest and most important car manufacturers. For more than 70 years we have been making innovative technologies, top quality and attractive design accessible for many people – for example, with bestsellers such as the Beetle or the Golf. We want to proactively shape the ongoing transformation of the automotive industry: our growing I.D. family represents a new generation of fully-connected electric cars that will play a significant role in the breakthrough of this technology.
With annual deliveries to customers topping the 6 million mark, the Volkswagen brand is a key pillar in the success of the Volkswagen Group. Wolfsburg is the brand’s nerve center – the city is not only home to brand headquarters and the development center, but also where the main plant is located. We operate over 50 production locations on all five continents and employ more than 200,000 people. With some 70 different models, we have a presence in all major market segments and almost every country around the world. Vehicle deliveries are highest in China and Europe.
Our TRANSFORM 2025+ strategy rolled out in 2016 marked the beginning of a far-reaching transformation process. The brand is to become a leading, profitable volume manufacturer as well as playing a leading role in the new world of automobility in the long term. Alongside significant improvements in efficiency and productivity, we are also focusing on a global model offensive: we will be launching more than ten new models per year, many of them SUVs, up to 2020. The first models from the full battery-electric, fully-connected I.D. family will then make their debut from 2020. The brand mission: the iconic car of the electric age must be a Volkswagen.
“We are not only embracing change in the automotive industry, but also shaping this transformation from the forefront.”
Key figures - Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand
Board of Management of the Volkswagen Brand
Press releases
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New gearbox generation enables CO2 savings of up to five grammes per kilometre
Volkswagen has developed a new state-of-the-art manual gearbox: the MQ281, as it is known, works efficiently and saves up to five grammes of CO2 per kilometre depending on the engine-gearbox combination. The new Passat is the first vehicle to be equipped with the MQ281, followed by almost all vehicle classes of the Volkswagen Group. -
Ford – Volkswagen expand their global collaboration to advance autonomous driving, electrification and better serve customers
Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen AG today announced they are expanding their global alliance to include electric vehicles – and will collaborate with Argo AI to in-troduce autonomous vehicle technology in the U.S. and Europe – positioning both companies to better serve customers while improving their competitiveness and cost and capital efficiencies. -
Volkswagen Group boosts deliveries in June
In June, there was a rise of 1.6 percent in deliveries by the Volkswagen Group compared with June 2018, to 974,400 vehicles. This positive development was chiefly driven by Chi-na, where 15 percent more vehicles than in June 2018 were handed over to customers. The new emissions standard C6 has applied since July 1, 2019, which led customers to bring purchases forward to June. There had been similar effects in Europe in June 2018. Vehicle deliveries in this region had reached a high level as a result of WLTP last June; as expected, there was therefore a fall (-4.8 percent) in June 2019. In North America (-0.5 percent) deliv-eries were slightly below those of the same month last year, South America (-0.1 percent) developed almost unchanged. Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Volkswagen Group Sales: “In June, the brands of the Volkswagen Group achieved good performance and boosted deliveries in overall markets that continued to shrink. In China, we benefited especially strongly from the positive impetus given by the changeover in emissions standards. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to a general turnaround there. All in all, we can look back on a successful first half of the year: the Group has maintained its position in a challenging market environment and expanded its global market share.” -
Press and investor conference: Volkswagen and Ford expand global alliance
Volkswagen and Ford expand their global alliance. -
Emden plant manager moves to China
Andreas Dick, plant manager at Volkswagen’s Emden factory, moves to China as Vice President (Technical) and Board of Management member at FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co. Ltd. In his new function, he succeeds Dr. Jürgen Unser, who takes on new responsibilities in the Group. Dick’s successor as plant manager in Emden will be appointed at a later date. -
Volkswagen with New Corporate Mission Statement Environment "goTOzero"
The Volkswagen Group is bundling all its measures in environmental protection under the new "goTOzero" environmental mission statement. Oliver Blume, Member of the Group Board of Management responsible for environmental protection, says: "With the new Group Environmental Policy, the Group is giving itself and its stakeholders a clear orientation. Our efforts to improve environmental protection cover the entire product cycle, from development, production and operation to the subsequent recycling of our vehicles and administration. We also involve our suppliers. Only together can we achieve our goals". -
Dr. Frank Welsch: “The ID.R is an important ambassador for Volkswagen”
Volkswagen has added two more chapters to the ID.R’s success story: the lap record for electric powered vehicles on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife was followed by the absolute track record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This once again impressively demonstrated the performance capabilities of electro technology. But the ID.R is more than a record holder – it is the racing spearhead to the ID. family of fully electric powered production vehicles, which will appear on the market from 2020. In an interview, Dr. Frank Welsch, Chief Development Officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, speaks about the significance of the records for the brand’s electro-mobility offensive. -
Higher deliveries for Volkswagen brand in June
The Volkswagen brand completed June with higher deliveries. Throughout the world, 542,300 vehicles were handed over to customers, 1.6 percent more than the same month last year. in predominantly shrinking overall markets, Volkswagen succeeded in maintaining stable market shares or further expanding them. As expected, Volkswagen once again delivered fewer vehicles in Europe following the record values of June 2018. The strong rise of 14.2 percent in China is a one-off effect resulting from regulatory changes in the overall market. With increases in deliveries by the brand of 9.6 percent and 13.0 percent respectively, the USA and Brazil were the strongest individual markets in June. In its home market of Germany, Volkswagen recorded a slight rise in deliveries (+1.0 percent). -
Faster than Formula 1: New record for the Volkswagen ID.R in Goodwood
The first electric race car to beat Formula 1: The Volkswagen ID.R has made motorsport history again by setting a new all-time record at the ‘Goodwood Festival of Speed’. Romain Dumas completed the 1.86-kilometre track in the south of England in just 39.90 seconds. In doing so, the 500-kW (680-PS) electric race car broke the previous record, which had stood for 20 years, by 1.7 seconds. He also took victory in the Sunday Shootout. The previous record at the famous hillclimb was set in 1999 by Nick Heidfeld in a 574-KW (780-PS) McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13 with a combustion engine. -
Volkswagen inaugurates “We Campus” in Berlin
Volkswagen today inaugurated the “We Campus” in Berlin. The digital launch command for the new facility was given by Ramona Pop, Deputy Governing Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Economy, Energy and Enterprises, and Christian Senger, Volkswagen brand Board Member responsible for Digital Car & Services. The new “We Campus” will bring together about 900 experts from Volkswagen and its technology partners who have previously worked at different locations. In future, they will develop new added value and mobility services which will be offered within the “Volkswagen We” ecosystem. This also includes the full-electric car sharing service WeShare which has been launched in Berlin with 1,500 e-Golf vehicles. Volkswagen is continuously expanding its ecosystem and intends to create further future-oriented jobs at the campus. -
Volkswagen Passenger Cars strengthens IT competence worldwide
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand is laying the groundwork for efficient and tailor-made digitalization within the company going forward with a new IT organization. Abdallah Shanti has been named Global Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Volkswagen brand and leads the IT function set up at the end of April this year. He will be in charge of IT at in excess of 50 locations belonging to the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand worldwide. -
Goodwood Festival of Speed: Volkswagen ID.R electric race car sets sights on Formula 1 record
It is a battle of the technology concepts at the “Goodwood Festival of Speed” (04 to 07 July 2019) – electric drivetrain versus petrol engine. Volkswagen travels with the ID.R electric race car to the famous motorsport revival in southern England, where it will take aim at the course record, which has stood for exactly 20 years. Back in 1999, Nick Heidfeld (D) set the fastest time of 41.6 seconds in a Formula 1 car, the McLaren-Mercedes MP4/13, driven by a V10 naturally-aspirated engine generating roughly 574 kW (780 PS). Only last year, the ID.R, which has a system performance of 500 kW (680 PS), set a new record for electric cars in Goodwood. Romain Dumas (F) was at the wheel of the ID.R, the sporty spearhead of the fully-electric ID. family of production vehicles. In doing so, he also set the third fastest time in the history of the event. -
Comprehensive changes at Human Resources
The HR division at the Volkswagen brand is making new leadership appointments in human resources at several sites and companies this summer. In addition, a new function will coordinate personnel work at the brand’s production sites. The Volkswagen Board Member for Human Resources, Gunnar Kilian, said: “For the transformation of the Volkswagen brand to succeed, we need optimal structures in our HR division. That is why we are overhauling our processes, moving forward with digitalization, restructuring and focusing on the top know-how of our leadership team. The present personnel changes deepen the know-how of every manager, broaden their experience and foster collaboration between sites and companies.” The changes will be successively implemented by September 1, 2019 at the latest. -
Volkswagen takes over leading position for electro-mobility in China
Volkswagen is striving for the lead in transforming the auto industry towards electric mobility in China. This was endorsed by the CEO of Volkswagen AG, Dr. Herbert Diess, at the first World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) in the southern Chinese city of Boao. The Boao Consensus, which describes the strategic results of the congress, foresees e-cars accounting for 50% of annual global car sales by 2035. Within the Chinese market, Volkswagen commits to that goal as well, making China pivotal for Volkswagen Group’s decarbonization strategy. Volkswagen intends to offer 14 electrified models to Chinese customers this year. By 2028, more than half of the Group's planned 22 million electric cars will be produced in China. At the same time, Volkswagen is strengthening its local R&D. More than 4,500 engineers work on future technologies in the country. -
Volkswagen donates two Multivan minibuses for Memorial Site work at Auschwitz
Volkswagen has donated two Volkswagen Multivan minibuses to the International Auschwitz Committee (IAC). In future, the vehicles are to be used in Oświęcim, Poland, for transporting people including survivors, international guests and voluntary workers to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp Memorial Site. Volkswagen and the IAC have been closely connected for over 30 years by their work on the joint project “Auschwitz – Remembrance and Responsibility”. During this time, about 3,300 Volkswagen apprentices from Germany and Poland have worked together to help maintain the Memorial Site of the National Socialist extermination camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. -
Volkswagen Group commits suppliers to sustainability
As of 1st July 2019, the Volkswagen Group will introduce a worldwide Sustainability Rating for its suppliers. This enables the company to assess the sustainability conduct of its business partners in its supply chain with regard to risks relating to human rights, environmental protection and corruption. -
Personnel changes at Volkswagen Passenger Cars and in South America
The Sales division at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand is making several new senior management appointments in Germany and in the South America Region. Achim Schaible, previously Head Sales International, takes over as Head After Sales & Dealer Network at the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand effective September 1st. He succeeds Peter Maiwald, who retired on June 1st. Thomas Zahn, currently President & CEO Volkswagen Argentina S.A., takes over from Schaible as Head Sales International. Zahn’s successor is Thomas Owsianski, currently President Audi China. -
Volkswagen WeShare launched in Berlin as full-electric service
Volkswagen is entering the growing car sharing sector. WeShare is being launched in Berlin today. With 1,500 e-Golf vehicles, the Volkswagen brand is bringing onto the roads a 100 percent electric fleet and all the vehicles will be operated on green power. They are to be followed by 500 additional e-up! vehicles at the beginning of next year and the first units of Volkswagen’s new full-electric ID.3 when it is introduced in mid-2020. WeShare is a “free-floating” system without rental stations and is operated digitally via an app. An expansion of WeShare, initially to Prague, together with ŠKODA, and then to Hamburg, is planned for 2020. -
Change on the Volkswagen Supervisory Board: Conny Schönhardt succeeds Birgit Dietze
There will be a change to the composition of employee representation on the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. Conny Schönhardt (41), who took on responsibility for Strategic and Political Planning on the management board of IG Metall in January 2019, is taking Birgit Dietze’s (46) seat on the Supervisory Board as of 21 June 2019. The Group announced this in Wolfsburg on Monday. -
Software Development Center: Volkswagen opens IT-Center in the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden
Volkswagen has opened a new IT Development Center today in its Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden. In Software Development Center Production (SDC Production), up to 80 newly hired IT specialists will be working on the Volkswagen Industrial Cloud. In the future, the Industrial Cloud will link all 122 Group-wide Volkswagen production facilities. The goal is to amalgamate all data, and in doing so consistently digitalise Production and Logistics. -
Works meeting at Wolfsburg main plant: Volkswagen stands for change, future, momentum
Volkswagen Board Member for Human Resources, Gunnar Kilian, and the Group and General Works Council Chairman, Bernd Osterloh, thanked the workforce for their dedication over the last years and months during the works meeting held at the main plant in Wolfsburg today (Wednesday). Speaking to more than 10,000 employees, Kilian said: “More than ever today, Volkswagen stands for a new beginning, future, momentum. Businesswise, too, we have taken Volkswagen a big step forward with the pact for the future. We have a portfolio of first class vehicles. The ID.3 and the Golf 8 celebrate their world premiere in the fall. No other car manufacturer is driving e-mobility forward like Volkswagen. And at the same time, we are also systematically orienting ourselves to the future with digitalization. All of this is only possible because the Volkswagen team delivers a top performance, because the team identifies with our course and helps safeguard our economic success. The entire Board of Management wishes to thank you for that.” Osterloh emphasized: “Our company’s transformation can only succeed if we can get the whole team on board and offer them security. The recently agreed employment guarantee up to 2029 – in other words for the next ten years – means no one needs to be worried about losing their job at Volkswagen.” -
Volkswagen and Schwarz Group to be strategic e-partners
Shortly before the market launch of its full-electric car sharing service WeShare in Berlin at the end of June, Volkswagen has concluded a strategic partnership with the Lidl and Kaufland supermarket chains, which are owned by the Schwarz Group. The food retailers are to install 140 public charging stations for the electric vehicles of their customers at 60 Lidl and 10 Kaufland branches in the German capital. Volkswagen is to receive the exclusive right to use the new infrastructure for charging its WeShare fleet overnight outside opening hours, which will make the utilization of the charging stations more efficient. The additional charging points at Lidl and Kaufland outlets will boost the public charging infrastructure in Berlin by almost 20 percent. -
Volkswagen sponsors International Weimar Cultural Symposium implemented by the Goethe-Institut
For the second time, Volkswagen is supporting the Weimar Cultural Symposium of the Goethe-Institut, which will be attended by more than 300 participants from all over the world. Intellectuals, artists, scientists and decision-makers will be debating major upheavals of our time in many areas of society. Volkswagen is actively contributing to this debate and so emphasizing how the company invests in creating a livable future. -
Green Computing Performance: Volkswagen opens carbon neutral data center in Norway
The Volkswagen Group moved into a new, climate neutral data center in Rjukan (Norway) today. The facility was set up in just six months in collaboration with the Norwegian partner Green Mountain. The data center will be 100 percent powered by hydropower in the future, thus saving more than 5,800 tons of CO2 per year compared to a conventionally operated data center. The maximum output of 2,750 kilowatts will be used by the Volkswagen Passenger Cars and AUDI brands for high-performance servers, on which computer-intensive vehicle development projects are processed. These include the simulation of crash tests and virtual wind tunnel tests. The Volkswagen Group focuses on economic and ecological factors in the development of additional computing capacity. Volkswagen already operates a climate neutral data center in Iceland. -
WTCR home race for Volkswagen and Benjamin Leuchter on the Nordschleife
Volkswagen Motorsport and the Sébastien Loeb Racing team are looking forward to a highlight of the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup calendar this weekend: from 20 to 22 June, Mehdi Bennani (MA), Rob Huff (GB), Johan Kristoffersson (S) and Benjamin Leuchter (D) will be driving their Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR on the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife (D). The WTCR drivers will be competing as part of the supporting programme for the 24h Nürburgring and 200,000 fans are expected to line the 25.378 kilometres of the combination of Grand Prix circuit and Nordschleife. After claiming the first podiums of the season at the last race in Zandvoort (NL), Volkswagen can approach the home race with plenty of confidence: this is especially true of local hero Leuchter. The Duisburg native knows the Nordschleife better than any other driver in the 27-strong starting field. -
Volkswagen Group expands market share in May
In May, there was a fall in deliveries by the Volkswagen Group compared with May 2018, but the decrease was lower than in previous months at 3.6 percent. In total, 918,900 cus-tomers throughout the world took delivery of a vehicle from a Group brand. Growth was achieved in some key European markets (Germany +4.6 percent, France +2.7 percent, Italy +2.7 percent), and in the regions of North America (+4.3 percent) and South America (+5.8 percent). However, these rises were insufficient to compensate in full for falls in other re-gions, especially Asia-Pacific (-9.4 percent). Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Volkswagen Group Sales, commented: “In May, our brands asserted their position in shrinking overall markets and slightly increased the global market share. Deliveries developed in different ways in the various markets. In Europe, we almost reached the high level of the previous year and recorded growth in some key markets including Germany. Positive impetus came from North and South America, but this was insufficient to compensate for the continuing weakness of the overall market in our largest single market, China. It is gratifying to note that we once again significantly increased our market share in China.” -
Volkswagen ID.R returns to Goodwood to defend its title
The Volkswagen ID.R is set to defend its title at the “Goodwood Festival of Speed” (4 to 7 July). Last year, Romain Dumas, at the wheel of the fully-electric race car, set a new record for electric vehicles at the prestigious race in the south of England. The Frenchman completed the 1.86-kilometre route of the Goodwood Hillclimb in just 43.86 seconds – the fastest time for 15 years. A mere five weeks after breaking the lap record for electric vehicles on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, the ID.R – the sporty spearhead of the ID. family of fully-electric production vehicles – is ready to take on its next challenge. -
Volkswagen invests in Northvolt AB
Volkswagen AG is investing some €900 million in joint battery activities with Northvolt AB. Part of the sum is intended for a joint venture with the Swedish battery cell producer, a further share will go directly to Northvolt AB. In return, Volkswagen will acquire about 20 percent of the shares in Northvolt AB and will have one seat on the Board of Directors, subject to approval under antitrust legislation. Furthermore, a 50/50 joint venture to build a 16 GWh battery cell factory in Europe is planned during the course of this year. It is intended to locate the factory in Lower Saxony (Salzgitter) if the preconditions for this are fulfilled. Construction of the production facility is scheduled to start, at the earliest, in 2020. Battery cell production for Volkswagen is slated to commence around the end of 2023/beginning of 2024. -
Volkswagen deliveries in May present a mixed picture
In May, the Volkswagen brand delivered 512,100 vehicles worldwide, 5.1 percent fewer than in May 2018. There was a mixed picture in the regions: while deliveries by the brand in North America (+8.6 percent), South America (+5,4 percent) and the individual market of Germany (+2.2 percent) rose, there was, as expected, a fall in Europe (-6.1 percent). The situation in China remained unchanged. In May, Volkswagen succeeded in increasing its market share in a shrinking overall market. -
Volkswagen up! receives “Wertmeister 2019” award
Fantastic award for Volkswagen: the city specialist up! TSI has won the “Wertmeister 2019” award (value champion) in the city car category. Each year, the automotive magazine AUTO BILD honors the vehicles with the most stable residual value in several vehicle segments. The award was presented to Holger B. Santel, Head of Sales and Marketing Germany, at a ceremony in Berlin yesterday evening. -
Volkswagen agrees digital transformation roadmap for administration and production
Volkswagen continues to forge ahead with the company’s modernization and digitalization: Volkswagen will be investing up to €4 billion in digitalization projects through 2023 – mainly in administration but also in production. At least 2,000 new jobs related to digitalization are to be created. This has been agreed by the Board of Management and the General Works Council in their “digital transformation roadmap”. Agile working methods, improved processes and digitalization are to reduce the burden on employees and speed up processes. Tasks that used to be performed manually are to be simplified through improved IT. Consequently, up to 4,000 jobs in non-production units at Volkswagen AG Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Components and Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH will not be restaffed over the coming four years. A precondition for this is that tasks are eliminated as a result of digitalization, process optimization and organizational streamlining. In addition, further investments in Industry 4.0 and an associated increase in productivity of five percent per year in production units through 2023 were also agreed. Furthermore, the budget for training is to be increased by a further €60 million to a total of €160 million to take account of the human resources transformation under Volkswagen’s digitalization offensive. A uniform employment guarantee for Volkswagen AG and Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH through 2029 has also been agreed. -
6:05.336 minutes – Volkswagen ID.R sets new electric record on the Nürburgring
Volkswagen has achieved another milestone in electro-mobility: The ID.R, powered by two electric motors, lapped the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 6:05.336 minutes – faster than any electric vehicle before it. Romain Dumas (F) beat the previous record set by Peter Dumbreck (GB, NIO EP9) in 2017 by 40.564 seconds. With an average speed of 204.96 km/h, the ID.R once again underlined the impressive performance capabilities of Volkswagen’s electric drive. This 500 kW (680 PS) emission-free race car is the racing flagship of the future fully electric ID. product family from Volkswagen. -
A vessel for technology beyond motorsport – the charging of the ID.R system
It is a science in itself: the ID.R charging system. Only with optimally charged batteries can the pursuit of the lap record for electric vehicles on the 20.8-kilometre Nürburgring-Nordschleife succeed. To this end, driver Romain Dumas (F) will also have to deploy the full system performance of 500 kW (680 PS) on the three-kilometre ‘Döttinger Höhe’ section at the end of the Nordschleife, which is nearly dead straight. -
Double debut at the GTI gathering: Apprentices from Wolfsburg and Zwickau present self-developed Golf showcars Aurora and FighteR
Double the pleasure at Wörthersee! The 29th of May is the big day for two teams of apprentices at Volkswagen. At the 38th GTI gathering, they will be presenting the showcars they developed and built themselves for the first time to tens of thousands of automobile fans attending the legendary event in 2019. The spotlight will be on the Golf GTI Aurora from Wolfsburg and the Golf Estate FighteR from Zwickau – and both Volkswagens will absolutely delight the fans. -
Volkswagen strengthens activities in China with market entry of SEAT and Smart City Project
The Volkswagen Group is expanding its business in its most important market, China. Volkswagen Group China, SEAT and the Chinese auto manufacturer JAC, which together form the joint venture JAC Volkswagen, continue to drive SEAT's market entry strategy. The Spanish brand aims to enter the Chinese market in the coming two to three years. An agreement has now been reached in Martorell, Spain, during a visit by a delegation of Chinese government officials from the Anhui province. Anhui’s provincial capital Hefei is where the headquarters of the JAC Volkswagen joint venture is located, which was founded in 2017 and focuses on the development, production and marketing of pure battery vehicles. China plays a central role in the global transformation of the Volkswagen Group and its decarbonization program. Already this year, the range of electrified vehicles will be expanded. By 2028, more than half of the 22 million e-cars planned by the Group will be produced in China. The goal is to deliver around 1.5 million electrified vehicles, most of them pure e-cars, to customers by 2025. -
Volkswagen launches new service called “We Experience”
Volkswagen has added a new service called “We Experience” to its “Volkswagen We” digital ecosystem in Germany. The new feature provides personalized recommendations and special offers for products and services available in the vicinity of the vehicle. The service rolls out with well-known partners such as Shell, Domino’s or Tank & Rast. IBM technology is used to deliver tailor-made offers based on users’ individual profiles. “We Experience” is available in the “VW Connect” app. -
Volkswagen ID.R on the Nordschleife: High-tech meets tradition
20.832 kilometres, 73 corners, many changes in elevation: the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Volkswagen has chosen one of the most iconic racetracks in the world for its next record attempt with the fully-electric ID.R. A lap record on the rollercoaster track in the Eifel region of Germany is a prestigious accolade for any race or production car. The current record for electric vehicles stands at 6:45.90 minutes and was set by British driver Peter Dumbreck in a NIO EP9 in 2017. -
Worldwide Volkswagen Group Accompanies International Biodiversity Day with Initiatives for Species Conservation
On the occasion of the International Biodiversity Day on 22 May 2019, Volkswagen is calling on all corporate brands and locations to provide support to nature conservation projects and especially conserve insects under the motto "Biodiversity as a livelihood". -
Group-wide deliveries fall in April
The Volkswagen Group delivered 866,400 vehicles in April, 6,6 percent below the figure for April 2018. In the month under review, all core regions recorded declines in the overall market. This was a result of the sluggish economy in some markets and the tense geopoliti-cal situation in other markets. Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Volkswagen Group Sales, commented: “In many major countries, the overall market experienced a downturn in April. In our largest single market of China, the customers of many brands continued to be reluctant to purchase despite the reduction in the VAT rate. The Volkswagen Group was not immune to this trend. Over the next few months, we will be introducing key new models and continue to look forward rather more optimistically to the second half of the year.” -
Volkswagen’s Incubator programme: six start-ups move into the Gläserne Manufaktur
Six new start-ups have been decided on for the founders programme in the Future Mobility Incubator at the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden. The winners of the final pitch were the following start-ups: AVILOO from Vienna, Kopernikus from Berlin, NAVENTIK from Chemnitz, Visualix from Berlin, home-IX UG from Stuttgart and LiGenium from Chemnitz. They will start work in the Gläserne Manufaktur in mid May 2019, where they will be able to develop their ideas for market readiness with the support of Volkswagen and the business development team of Saxony’s capital, Dresden. 114 start-ups entered the fourth founders class competition. -
Two impressive Beetles and a 1,000-mile adventure: Volkswagen at the 2019 Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia is the most famous road race in the world. Steeped in history dating back as far as 1927, the event takes participants 1,000 miles (about 1,600 km) from Brescia to Rome and back, this year from 15 to 18 May. To mark the end of production of the Beetle, Volkswagen is resurrecting the success story of the Beetle – and lines up with two contemporary classics at the legendary Mille Miglia. -
Volkswagen delivers fewer vehicles in April
In April, the Volkswagen brand delivered 487,400 vehicles worldwide, 6.2 percent fewer than in April 2018. In the month under review, there were gratifying developments in the USA (+8.7 percent), Canada (+11.1 percent), Russia (+7.3 percent) and Brazil (+7.7 percent). Deliveries by Volkswagen in China were down 6.5 percent but the brand was able to further increase its market share in a shrinking overall market. Volkswagen Sales Board Member Jürgen Stackmann: “We offer extremely attractive models in overall markets which are difficult and shrinking in many cases. In North America, our SUV offensive is bearing fruit and has had a positive effect on the monthly figures. China remains a severe challenge for us and all other market players.” -
Shareholders formally approve actions of Board of Management and Supervisory Board and adopt resolution on increased dividend for 2018
At the Annual General Meeting 2019, the shareholders of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft voted by a majority of 99.98 percent to approve the recommendation of the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board to pay a dividend of 4.80 (3.90) EUR per ordinary share and 4.86 (3.96) EUR per preferred share for fiscal year 2018. Approximately 2.4 billion (2.0 billion) EUR will therefore be distributed to shareholders. The ordinary shareholders deferred formal approval of the actions of Rupert Stadler for fiscal year 2018 on account of the still ongoing investigations into the diesel issue. The resolution on the formal approval of the actions of all other members of the Board of Management and the Supervisory Board who held office in 2018 was passed by 94.95 percent of the ordinary shareholders represented at the Annual General Meeting. -
Already more than 15,000 registrations for the ID.3
Less than one week after the start of pre-booking for the ID.3, more than 15,000 registrations have already been received for the first model in the new full-electric ID. family. That is already more than half of the total pre-booking volume of 30,000 vehicles. Volkswagen has recorded the greatest interest from the markets of Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, the UK and Sweden. The IT systems of the pre-booking platforms are now stable after the initial flood of customers. Jürgen Stackmann, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand responsible for Sales, Marketing and After-Sales: “The positive response shows that many customers are ready for e-mobility. People who want to be among the first to drive an ID.3 should not wait too long with their registrations. The number of pre-bookers is rising steadily.” -
Supervisory Board and Board of Management take important decisions for future of Volkswagen Group
The Supervisory Board and Board of Management of Volkswagen AG took important decisions for the future of the Volkswagen Group today. As part of its electrification offensive the Volkswagen Group is to move forward with setting up a battery cell production facility in Europe under a partnership. To that end, the Supervisory Board approved investments of just under one billion euros at today’s meeting. It is planned to locate a battery cell production facility in Lower Saxony (Salzgitter). It was also decided to begin concrete negotiations on the planned new multibrand plant in Europe with the remaining potential locations. In addition, the Supervisory Board requested the Board of Management to start the process to develop a forward-looking, industrially meaningful solution for MAN Energy Solutions (ES) and RENK AG. The focus lies on opening future-oriented growth perspectives for mechanical engineering in the Group, for example though a joint venture, partnerships, or a full or partial sale. Furthermore, it was decided to prepare an IPO of TRATON SE to be launched before the 2019 summer break, subject to further market developments. -
Volkswagen resumes preparations for IPO of TRATON SE
Backed by approval from the Supervisory Board, the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG today resolved to go ahead with the planned IPO of TRATON SE before the summer break, depending on further developments on capital markets. -
Volkswagen votes for Europe
In a joint election appeal, the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group and the Group Works Council have called upon the company’s employees in the European Union to vote in the election to the European Parliament. Depending on the country, the election is being held from May 23 to 26, 2019. -
Volkswagen has already built 200 pre-production vehicles of the new electric car ID.3
Conversion of the vehicle factory in Zwickau to the largest production site for electric mobility in Europe is right on schedule. The members of Volkswagen’s Group and Brand Boards of Management, as well as the Group Works Council, were able to see that for themselves at today’s site symposium for all three locations in Saxony held at Zwickau. The focus was on preparations for start-up of the new ID.3 and building the expertise required for that. More than 200 pre-production vehicles of the ID.3 have already been manufactured successfully. The first ID. production vehicles are to roll off the assembly line at the end of 2019. Only e-cars will be built at Zwickau by the end of 2020 – up to 1,500 a day for Volkswagen and other Group brands. -
Already more than 10,000 registrations for the ID.3
At a press event held yesterday in Berlin, Volkswagen launched pre-booking in Europe for the first model in its new full-electric ID. model family, the ID.3. Customers’ interest in the special edition, the ID.3 1ST, which is limited to 30,000 vehicles, is significantly exceeding the brand’s expectations. Sometimes, the IT systems are unable to handle the large number of users accessing the system at the same time. This leads to long waiting times and interruptions in the registration process in some markets. Volkswagen is working hard to eliminate the hitches. Nevertheless, more than 10,000 registrations were received throughout Europe during the first 24 hours. -
Volkswagen offers pre-booking for the first time
Volkswagen is today starting pre-booking in Europe for the first model in its new full-electric ID. family, the ID.3. With immediate effect, potential customers can register for an early production slot for the ID.3 at www.volkswagen.com/id-prebooking by paying a registration deposit of €1,000. The ID.3 1ST special edition, which has been especially configured for pre-booking, includes high-quality, high-performance equipment and is limited to 30,000 vehicles. Volkswagen is equipping the ID.3 1ST with the medium-sized battery option later available for the ID.3 series, which is expected to be most popular. With the three series battery options, ranges between 330 and up to 550 kilometers in accordance with WLTP will be possible. The pre-booking special edition has a range of 420 km (WLTP). While the base recommended price of the ID.3 series model with the smallest battery version starts at under €30,000 in Germany (target price), the exclusive ID.3 1ST special edition will be available for less than €40,000, before the deduction of the state subsidy in each case. -
Cutaway model “eGon” offers insights into vehicle technology at IdeenExpo
In Hanover today, Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles unveiled details of the multifaceted program in store for visitors at IdeenExpo in Hanover from June 15 to 23. eGon, the cutaway model of an e-Golf, is one of Volkswagen’s highlight projects to be showcased at Germany’s largest youth event for science and technology. -
Volkswagen brand boosts sales revenue and result
In the first quarter of the 2019 financial year, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand performed solidly in a challenging market environment. The lead brand of the Volkswagen Group was able to boost sales revenue and operating profit in the first three months despite a slight fall in deliveries. With an improved product mix, the sales revenue of the Volkswagen brand grew by 7.1 percent to €21.5 billion. After three months, the operating profit before special impacts was 4.8 percent up on the prior-year figure, at €921 million. Here too, Volkswagen benefited from an improved product mix, positive developments in product costs and especially an improvement in fixed costs. In the first quarter, the operating return on sales was at about the same level as in the previous year, at 4.3 percent. In the reporting period, legal risks gave rise to special items in the amount of €0.4 billion in connection with the processing of the diesel issue. -
Volkswagen with international e-mobility marketing campaign
At the start of the pre-booking phase for its new full-electric ID. in Europe on May 8, Volkswagen is launching a broad-based international e-mobility marketing campaign. The campaign focuses especially on the ID. and is to start one year before the model’s market launch. Normally, large scale campaigns only start in connection with the launch of a model. This time, more than 600 individual communication elements are being produced for distribution on various channels. The key element and the umbrella campaign will be the “eManifesto: ID. Volkswagen, just electric”, which is to be shown on the occasion of the DFB cup final in Berlin on May 25 and will “electrify” more than 50 percent of the advertising space available in the German capital. Further elements of the campaign will be “influencer”, “barrier”, “teaser” and product films. As the heart of the campaign, the central information pool on e-mobility, the www.volkswagen.de/id website, will go live when pre-booking for the ID. starts. The highlight of the campaign will be the world premiere of the ID. at the IAA International Motor Show in Frankfurt. The media budget for the campaign in Europe will run well into the double-digit million range. -
The Volkswagen Group boosts sales revenue and earnings in the first quarter
The Volkswagen Group confirms full-year targets for deliveries to customers, sales revenue and operating profit before special items. Sales revenue of the Volkswagen Group rose 3.1 percent year-on-year to EUR 60.0 billion in the first three months of the current fiscal year. The rise, which occurred despite the decline in volumes of deliveries to customers, was mainly the result of mix improvements and the healthy business performance in the Finan-cial Services Division. At EUR 11.7 (11.6) billion, operating profit was in line with the previ-ous year. Operating profit before special items increased by EUR 0.6 billion to EUR 4.8 billion. The operating return on sales before special items rose to 8.1 (7.2) percent. Positive effects arising from the fair value measurement of gains and losses on certain de-rivatives, improvements in the mix and price positioning and the favorable exchange rate trend more than offset the rise in fixed costs and lower vehicle sales. Negative special items arising from legal risks in the amount of one billion euros reduced operating profit, which declined year-on-year by EUR 0.3 billion to EUR 3.9 billion. The share of profits or losses of equity-accounted investments and the share of profits and losses of the Chinese joint ven-tures included in that amount were on a par with the previous year at EUR 800 million. Profit before tax was down on the prior-year period, at EUR 4.1 (4.5) billion. Net liquidity in the Automotive Division amounted to EUR 16.0 billion. -
Volkswagen ID. R completes its first test on the Nordschleife
One day after the world premiere for the new ID. R at the Nürburgring, Romain Dumas drove the first test laps on the Nordschleife in the fully electric race car. On the 20.832-kilometre-long circuit, the Frenchman completed an extensive testing programme, driving two alternative ID. R chassis to make optimal use of the available time. In doing so, Volkswagen Motorsport began the final preparation phase for the attempt to set a new lap record for electric vehicles on the tradition-steeped track in the Eifel with the 500 kW (680 PS) race car. -
Electric to the max: 56 pages on the ID. R and the electro-mobility strategy from Volkswagen
Volkswagen Motorsport presents its new digital booklet, “Electric to the max – the record-chasing ID. R.”, with all the information on the continuously developed version of the first fully electric race car from Volkswagen. Over 56 pages, there are interesting facts, exclusive insights and explanations on how the ID. R, as the racing flagship for future electric production vehicles from the ID. family, combines Volkswagen’s technical competence in relation to electric drive with the emotions and fascination of motorsport. -
Exhibition opening in Berlin: Volkswagen supports "Andreas Mühe. Mischpoche"
2019, Titled "Mischpoche", Andreas Mühe will present his latest series of works in Berlin, centered around photographic family portraits. In these images Mühe joins together the living and dead members of his highly diverse artistic family. Those members that were no longer alive were replicated as stunningly lifelike sculptures in a complex and intensive production process arranged by Mühe. Volkswagen helped to realize this exhibition as part of its ongoing support of Nationalgalerie, thereby also lending support to Andreas Mühe´s internationally renowned body of work. -
Motorsport with electric drive: Double world premiere for the new Volkswagen ID. R
Volkswagen has presented the continuously developed version of the ID. R, the fully electric race car. The racing flagship of the future fully electric product family from Volkswagen is to set a new lap record for electric vehicles on the 20.832-kilometre-long Nordschleife. In order for driver Romain Dumas to undercut the until-now best time of 6:45.90 minutes, Volkswagen Motorsport has consistently and continuously developed the ID. R. On 25 April, the ID. R is to complete its first test on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Virtually speaking, the ID. R will already drive its first laps from today; for the first time, a race car will also be presented at the same time in a near-reality computer simulation that can be downloaded free of charge. -
T-Cross and Cara Delevingne are “#MoreThan1Thing”
For the market launch of the T-Cross, Volkswagen is embarking on a campaign for its latest SUV in Europe. The integrated 360° campaign includes a TV spot, printed and billboard advertisements as well as digital and social media content. The campaign face and testimonial of the T-Cross is Cara Delevingne. The claim #MoreThan1Thing describes the versatility of both the vehicle and its testimonial. -
Electric Vehicles with Lowest CO2 Emissions
For the same vehicle models with different powertrains, the carbon footprint of the battery-powered E variants is already better than those of the corresponding vehicles with internal combustion engines. In addition, the electric vehicles offer a higher CO2-saving potential in all phases of the product cycle. Furthermore, it is of crucial importance for CO2 emissions whether the propulsion energy is generated from fossil or regenerative sources. This is the result of a certified life cycle assessment (LCA) of the Volkswagen Golf, which compares the CO2 emissions of the different vehicle versions with either an electric or an internal combustion engine. -
Mission Maximum: 68 pages of records and superlatives
Volkswagen Classic is proud to present a selection of records and remarkable benchmarks in its online publication “Mission Maximum”. The digital booklet spans the fifties to the present day, the Volkswagen Ecomobile to the ID. R, Wolfsburg to Tierra del Fuego, and Jochi Kleint to Romain Dumas. The 68 pages are packed with exciting stories, interviews offering exclusive insights, fascinating facts and impressive figures from the world of Volkswagen. -
From mine to factory: Volkswagen makes supply chain transparent with blockchain
Optimizing supply chains, eliminating sources of error, guaranteeing social and ecological standards – these are the goals of the collaboration between the Volkswagen Group and Minespider. Together with the blockchain specialist, a pilot project is to be set up to achieve transparency in the the global supply chain for lead. Blockchain technology makes it possible to trace the raw material back to the point of origin by means of digital certificates. The Volkswagen Group plans to use this technology for further raw materials and their supply chains. -
Bring on the Nürburgring – ID. R ready for its record attempt on the Nordschleife
The ID. R has completed the next series of tests in preparation for the challenges that lie ahead. After working on the aerodynamics in the wind tunnel, the most recent tests at the racetracks in Le Castellet and Alès (both France) focused on the energy management software. The objective was to establish the ideal set-up for the electric drivetrain ahead of the record attempt on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. In the summer of 2019, the ID. R, sporty forerunner of the ID. family of fully-electric production vehicles from Volkswagen, will be aiming to set a new record lap time for electric vehicles at the historic Eifel circuit, with Romain Dumas at the wheel. -
Volkswagen ID. R uses Formula 1 technology for optimal aerodynamics
Volkswagen has set itself a new challenge with the ID. R this year – the Nürburgring-Nordschleife instead of Pikes Peak. A race track instead of a hill climb. Full-throttle sections instead of hair-pins. Because of this, the fully electric-powered ID. R has been continuously developed with respect to its aerodynamics. -
China plays key role in Volkswagen Group’s e-mobility strategy
China will play a key role in the Volkswagen group’s global transformation and its accompanying decarbonization program. Thus, this year will see an intensified roll-out of new energy models. Volkswagen Group China aims to produce more than half of the group’s global objective of 22 million BEVs by 2028. To speed up its e-offensive, it will also launch a new joint venture in charging infrastructure. All this will lay the foundation for wide acceptance of e-mobility. Meanwhile, in the area of future technologies, Volkswagen Group China is combining its research power, with Volkswagen brand, Audi and Group R&D working together within the new ONE R&D structure. -
Volkswagen launches model offensive in China
Volkswagen plans an extensive model offensive in China. The brand will have doubled its SUV range by 2020. Volkswagen announced during the Auto Shanghai 2019, that the share of SUVs is expected to rise to up to 40 per cent. It is targeting the tradiotional part as well as the growing e-mobility sector. The Volkswagen brand presented five new SUV, four of them as world premieres. SAIC VOLKSWAGEN showed the T-Cross and the soon to be launched Teramont X, FAW-VW the SUV Coupé Concept and SMV Concept. Besides the four models of the joint ventures the latest member of the ID. Family celebrated its world premiere: the ID. ROOMZZ. -
Volkswagen Group wins further market shares
The Volkswagen Group handed over 998,900 vehicles to customers worldwide in March, corresponding to a fall of 4.3 percent compared with March 2018. In Europe (+0.6 percent) and North America (+3.7 percent), more customers took delivery of a vehicle from one of the Group brands than in the same month last year. However, this could not compensate for lower deliveries in the Asia-Pacific region (-9.9 percent) and South America (-10.2 percent). Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Volkswagen Group Sales, commented: “As was the case in the first two months of the year, the Volkswagen Group again performed better than the global market in March and won further market shares. This confirms the great appeal of our brands and their products. We ended what was, as expected, a challenging first quarter with deliveries exceeding 2.6 million vehicles and high order backlogs, and are somewhat more optimistic, particularly as regards the second half of the year.” -
Intelligent power strip: Transparent Factory in Dresden installs flexible, expandable electric charging infrastructure
The Transparent Factory in Dresden is expanding its electric charging infrastructure. Extra charging points have been installed at Volkswagen’s Dresden site as part of a joint venture with the start-up ChargeX. Just days after receiving CE certification, the start-up’s first charging solution anywhere in the world has officially come on stream. The idea behind it is as clever as it is cost-effective: the only installation required was a 22 kW wall box. Two additional charging points are now connected using an intelligent power strip. 32 charging points are now available for staff and visitors. Pilot projects are also planned at other Volkswagen locations. The Office of Economic Development for the City of Dresden is also providing about €36,500 of funding for a pilot project in which ChargeX will conduct practical testing of integrated charging control (load management). -
Volkswagen and Karajan Music Tech Conference unveil deconstructed trumpet
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the key topic of the Karajan Music Tech Conference hosted in Salzburg by the Eliette and Herbert von Karajan Institute with the support of Volkswagen. With this partnership, the Group builds upon the success of the previous conference and facilitates a new international expert meeting as well as a presentation of innovative technologies in the world of music. -
Computer simulations accelerate the continuous development of the ID. R
The continuous development of the ID. R is in full swing. The prototype, powered by two electric motors with a 500 kW (680 PS) system performance, will in summer 2019 hunt down the lap record for electric vehicles on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife with Romain Dumas at the wheel. As well as extensive test drives and the work in the wind tunnel, Volkswagen Motorsport is also strongly relying on computer simulations in the preparation phase. These digital tools not only represent essential support for the engineers, they also save time and costs. -
One million Sharan – Volkswagen Autoeuropa in Portugal celebrates production anniversary
Today, the millionth Sharan rolled off the assembly line at Volkswagen Autoeuropa in Palmela since production started there 24 years ago. Its safety, space utilisation and sliding door concept continues to impress families and long-haul drivers around the world. -
Volkswagen expands market share in first quarter
The Volkswagen brand delivered 542,700 vehicles worldwide in March, 7.2 percent below the record level for March 2018. The positive trend in the USA (+14.0 percent) could not compensate for lower deliveries in Asia (-10.0 percent), Europe (-3.5 percent) and South America (-12.7 percent). Volkswagen handed over a total of 1,456,400 vehicles to customers in the first quarter, 4.5 percent down on the same period in 2018. In an overall market that also saw deliveries fall, the brand therefore recorded a slight gain in its market share for the first quarter. -
Live at Techno Classica 2019: apprentices Fábio and Marvin to complete Volkswagen Type 3 restoration
Exceptional training station: Fábio Lopes and Marvin Wiethölter will complete their restoration project this week at the Techno Classica classic car fair in Essen. Since December 2018, the apprentices at Volkswagen in Osnabrück have been rebuilding a classic Volkswagen Type 3. They have also given the hatchback sedan VW 1600 TL a more powerful Type 4 engine. The final is now scheduled for April 10th until 14th, when the future automotive mechatronics engineers for system and high-voltage technology will complete the 1968 classic at the Volkswagen Classic stand - live in front of ten thousands of visitors to the world's largest trade fair for classic cars. -
Cheer us on in Marrakesh – Volkswagen at the starting line of FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR)
This weekend (5 to 7 April 2019), the Sébastien Loeb Racing team and Volkswagen Motorsport join the line-up for the FIA World Touring Car Championship in Morocco – with no less than four racing versions of the Golf GTI TCR. The already sporty compact vehicle was tuned to the requirements of the racing track by Volkswagen Motorsport experts and now boasts 257 kW (350 PS). Based on the racing version, Volkswagen offers the Golf GTI TCR production model with 213 kW (290 PS). -
Volkswagen at the Techno Classica 2019: records, cabriolets and a trainee project
Volkswagen Classic is presenting three themed areas at the world’s largest fair for vintage automobiles. Six unique record breakers and a 68-page booklet recount superlative achievements from the world of Volkswagen. “Summer Forever” honours 70 years of the Beetle Cabriolet with two rare exhibits. “Youth at Work” displays a special apprentice project: trainees from Volkswagen Osnabrück will complete the restoration of a classic in Hall 4.0. -
Volkswagen Group secures lithium supplies
The Volkswagen Group and Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. registered in Jiangxi (China) have signed a memorandum of understanding on long-term lithium supplies for battery cells. Under the agreement, Ganfeng will supply lithium to the Volkswagen Group and its suppliers for the next ten years. Volkswagen is thus already securing a significant share of its lithium requirement for batteries. -
The continuing development of the Volkswagen ID. R to make the record on Nürburgring-Nordschleife possible
The next challenge for the ID. R awaits: in summer, a new record is set to be delivered on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. The team from Volkswagen Motorsport are therefore working intensively on the continuing development of the purely electric-powered race car. The focus of the testing and development phase is on increasing the efficiency of the vehicle. The ID. R, powered by two electric motors with system performance of 500 kW (680 hp), is the racing forerunner to the ID. product family, the future range of purely electric-powered production vehicles from Volkswagen. -
New Passat breaks record on debut: Number one mid-range model with 30 million vehicles worldwide
On April 3, the Passat broke the 30-million-model mark for production in the Volkswagen plant at Emden, with the result that the bestseller set a new record in its segment: no other mid-range model and no other business vehicle globally has been sold more often than the Passat. The 30,000,000th vehicle – a Passat GTE Variant with a plug-in hybrid drive and a Pyrite Silver Metallic exterior – is already one of the first models in a new evolutionary stage to feature an extensive technical update (European presales will begin in May). The 30 millionth Passat will be used as a press and test vehicle for the international media over the coming months. -
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden visits Volkswagen
Sweden is the Partner Country of Hannover Messe 2019. During his official visit to Germany, Prince Carl Philip was welcomed by Volkswagen Group representatives in Wolfsburg and found out more about the company’s e-mobility strategy. The Swedish Prince was one of the first to test the Group’s new generation of electric cars, including models from the Volkswagen ID. family. Sweden is one of Europe’s largest markets for electric vehicles. -
Volkswagen starts “Faculty 73” training program for IT specialists
The newly-established “Faculty 73” at Volkswagen has begun its training program for software developers. In the four weeks since the program got underway the 100 participants have already developed and programmed the first model vehicles and built a software-controlled miniature production line. Today, the Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Hubertus Heil, was joined at the AutoUni in Wolfsburg by Human Resources Board Member, Gunnar Kilian, and the Chairman of the Works Council, Bernd Osterloh, to find out more about the successful start to the Group’s internal IT training program. Under the innovative program, participants are trained as software developers at Volkswagen over a two-year period. Students include employees who have completed their vocational training as well as PhD graduates. -
Golf turns 45 – On 29 March 1974, Volkswagen started making Europe’s most successful car
The Golf, the most successful European car, is turning 45. On 29 March 1974, the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg officially started production of what would become its bestseller. Back then, nobody at Volkswagen had any idea that the successor to the legendary Beetle would end up selling more than 35 million units all over the world – and still selling to this day. In purely mathematical terms, a new Golf has been ordered somewhere in the world every 41 seconds, every day, without interruption, since the start of production (SOP) 45 years ago. That is an average of around 780,000 vehicles per year. -
Girls’ Day 2019: 1,092 girls find out more about technical trades at Volkswagen
Volkswagen welcomed 1,092 female students from grades 6 to 10 for Girls’ Day 2019 on Thursday, March 28. The girls gained an insight into technical trades at ten locations throughout Germany and found out from young women and training staff why technical trades are varied, exciting and future-proof. Volkswagen is steadily working on increasing the share of women in technical trades. -
Volkswagen and Nationalgalerie add two further years to their partnership
Volkswagen and Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin have agreed on a two-year extension of their partnership. By aiming to provide the largest possible audience with chances to engage with culture, the collaboration helps society to strengthen cultural education efforts. Originally launched in 2013, the alliance has made Volkswagen a significant supporter of the Nationalgalerie, one of Europe’s leading museum institutions covering with its internationally renowned collection the evolution of art from 1800 until today. Works from the collection are on view in five museums: Alte Nationalgalerie, Hamburger Bahnhof, Neue Nationalgalerie, Museum Berggruen and Sammlung Scharf-Gerstenberg. -
Volkswagen exchanges more than 300,000 old diesels
The Volkswagen Group can give a positive interim report on its exchange incentives for diesel vehicles. Since August 2017, more than 300,000 old diesel vehicles to exhaust emissions standards Euro 1 to Euro 5 have been exchanged throughout the Group. They have been replaced by new or nearly new cars from the participating Group brands with efficient powertrains of the latest generation to exhaust emission standard Euro 6. Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Group Sales: “The exchange incentives have significantly exceeded our expectations. We have kept our promises to politicians and made a key contribution to the renewal of the fleet and to a rapid improvement in air quality in German cities. Our customers have recently increasingly opted for used cars, which is why we are extending the relevant incentives until further notice for VW and Audi. The incentives for new cars will expire at the end of April, as already announced.” -
“China Challenge”: The Volkswagen ID. R on the “Road to Heaven”
The fully-electric Volkswagen ID. R will take on another special challenge in September 2019. Romain Dumas (F) will be back at the wheel of the 500-kW electric sports car for the “China Challenge” on the Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road – a unique stretch of tarmac, featuring 99 corners, which winds its way up Tianmen Mountain, located roughly 1,500 kilometres southwest of Beijing. As no official record exists for the eleven-kilometre mountain road, which is not accessible to public transport, Volkswagen China will run a competition prior to the record attempt, in which participants can set their own virtual time on the Tianmen Shan Big Gate Road. Dumas will then attempt to better the time of the fastest participant under real conditions in September. -
New management at Volkswagen Group Components
The new Volkswagen Group Components brand is using its cross-brand and international structure to fill some of its management positions. As of 1 March 2019, Heiner Lanze has taken over as Head of Procurement of the newly independent business unit. He succeeds Stephan Beyse, who, as part of a regular rotation, now holds the position of Head of Procurement of Genuine Parts in Kassel. From 1 May 2019, Frank Engel will become Executive Vice President of Components, Logistics, Quality for all Volkswagen Group China's component activities. Christian Bleiel will succeed Mr Engel to become Head of Component Production for the Group brand ŠKODA AUTO. At the same time, Andreas Salewsky, as Mr Bleiel’s successor, will become the new head of the component site at Salzgitter. -
Volkswagen forms European Battery Union with Northvolt
The Volkswagen Group and further European partners are joining forces to form the Euro-pean Battery Union (EBU) with a view to forging ahead with battery research throughout Europe. The new consortium is to be led by the Volkswagen Group and the Swedish battery producer Northvolt. The joint research activities of the European Battery Union will cover the entire battery value stream – from raw materials through cell technology to recycling. The prime objective is to accumulate much broader know-how on battery cell production. -
Volkswagen Brand China and FAW-Volkswagen establish new joint venture for connected services
Volkswagen Brand China and its Chinese joint venture FAW-Volkswagen are scaling up their cooperation in the area of digitalization and connectivity. MOS Intelligent Connectivity Technology Co. Ltd., a joint venture between Volkswagen Group China and FAW-Volkswagen, will be established in the Chinese city of Chengdu. The partners are investing a total of RMB 1 billion in the company that will operate under the MOSI brand (Mobile Online Services Intelligent). The objective is to develop and offer digital services for all future Volkswagen models of FAW-Volkswagen from 2019 onwards, including vehicles based on the modular electric toolkit (MEB) from 2020. With the new joint venture, the Volkswagen brand is forging ahead with the development of its automotive ecosystem in China. -
Volkswagen Group boosts market shares in February
In February, the Volkswagen Group handed 724,400 vehicles over to customers throughout the world, corresponding to a fall of 1.8 percent compared with February 2018. Volkswagen developed better than the overall world market, which continues to shrink, and the Group once again won market shares. This was the case in the regions of Western Europe, South America and Asia-Pacific. In the largest single market of China, deliveries fell significantly compared with the previous year (-7.4 percent), but the Group still performed better than the overall market, which remained weak. Dr. Christian Dahlheim, Head of Volkswagen Group Sales: “In February, the Volkswagen Group delivered slightly fewer vehicles than last year, but we were able to gain market shares in a shrinking overall market. Despite the market environment, which continues to be challenging as expected, we have therefore continued our solid start to the new year. With our broad-based product offensive, we are confident that we will once again record a slight increase in deliveries this year”. In 2019, the brands of the Volkswagen Group will launch over 90 new models. -
Volkswagen 4.0 – the production systems of tomorrow are being developed in the Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden
The Gläserne Manufaktur in Dresden is continuing to develop into the Volkswagen Group’s primary test location for trialling innovative technologies. In conjunction with the Wolfsburg and Emden factories, the Gläserne Manufaktur is part of a “technical centre” project. The primary idea is to achieve automation of complex work steps within assembly. The special challenge is that the testing and development takes place on an ongoing basis during production of the e-Golf in the Gläserne Manufaktur. The first project at the Dresden site is a world first – the headliner for the e-Golf is now being fitted by a robot as standard. This manufacturing step will also be used in production of the ID. from the end of 2019 at Volkswagen’s Zwickau plant. -
Volkswagen brand steps up pace of transformation
Volkswagen will be boosting the pace of its transformation following a solid fiscal year 2018. The brand is taking important steps this year to strengthen competitiveness on a sustained basis. This includes the start of the electric offensive, efficiency measures in production and further progress in productivity and margins. At the same time, the brand is rolling out an earnings improvement program aimed at achieving a sustained contribution of €5.9 billion from 2023. Measures include reducing complexity and optimizing material costs. The program will gradually start delivering results in the period from 2019 to 2022. Furthermore, efficiencies in administration are to be leveraged by a stronger focus on process digitalization. Furthermore, efficiencies in administration are to be leveraged by a stronger focus on process digitalization. -
VW delivers fewer vehicles but gains market shares
In February, the Volkswagen brand delivered 398,100 vehicles throughout the world, 2.2 percent fewer than in February 2018. In an overall market which shrank even more strongly, Volkswagen was able to gain market shares throughout the world. The brand delivered more cars in Germany (+3.4 percent), Europe (+1.8 percent) and South America (+45.6 percent). Falls in deliveries were recorded in North America (-4.2 percent) and China (-8.8 percent). In China too, the brand won further market shares despite strong shrinkage in the overall market. -
Volkswagen Group brands deliver a solid performance
In fiscal year 2018, the Volkswagen Group again benefited from its broad positioning and the sustained solid performance both of its brands and its financial services. Dr. Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, explained: “2018 was a successful year for the Volkswagen Group. We performed very well in spite of strong headwinds. Our Group brands worked very hard to help achieve this result. We must now redouble our efforts, step up the pace and resolutely continue the transformation we have begun.” -
Volkswagen plans 22 million electric vehicles in ten years
The Volkswagen Group is forging ahead with the fundamental change of system in individual mobility and systematically aligning with electric drives. The Group is planning to launch almost 70 new electric models in the next ten years – instead of the 50 previously planned. As a result, the projected number of vehicles to be built on the Group’s electric platforms in the next decade will increase from 15 million to 22 million. Expanding e-mobility is an important building block on the road to a CO2-neutral balance. Volkswagen has signed off a comprehensive decarbonization program aimed at achieving a fully CO2-neutral balance in all areas from fleet to production to administration by 2050. Volkswagen is thus fully committed to the Paris climate targets. -
Volkswagen to pay performance-related bonus of €4,750
For 2018, the employees of Volkswagen AG covered by collective bargaining agreements are to receive a performance-related bonus of €4,750 gross. Compared with 2017, the bonus is therefore to rise by €650 gross. Human Resources Board Member Gunnar Kilian and Works Council Chairman Bernd Osterloh praised the performance of the team in the challenging year of 2018. They said that joint efforts would now pay off for each individual employee in the form of the bonus.
Stories
“Self-driving Cars Present a Great Opportunity”
Alexander Hitzinger, Board of Management member for Development at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, is responsible for developing autonomous driving at the Volkswagen Group. In an interview, he talks about the cooperation with Ford, technological challenges and future business models.
Together with Ford to the future
Volkswagen and Ford are intensifying their cooperation in the strategic fields of e-mobility and autonomous driving. Volkswagen has already made some achievements in both areas. An overview:
From springs and dampers to rotors and stators
In the coming days, the production of essential components for the new ID.3 will commence at four Volkswagen factories. We explain which parts Volkswagen Group Components builds and where they are produced.
For the mobility of the future
Volkswagen is opening the "We"-Campus in Berlin with 900 jobs. Six employees talk about their work for the digital ecosystem Volkswagen We, the traffic in Berlin and their personal motivation.
“We have to stay on the ball permanently”
When it comes to cultural change, Volkswagen Group also focuses on diversity – and starts with managers. A special program within the Volkswagen Group is designed to sensitize employees to the topic and ensure that they live diversity within the company. Elke Heitmüller, Head of Diversity Management at the Volkswagen Group, explains what is important here.
24 hours in the Green Hell
The Volkswagen ID.R captivates 230,000 spectators at the endurance classic. Popular Girls Only racing team dogged by bad luck at the 24-hour race in their Golf GTI. GTI TCR wins two races in the Touring Car World Cup.
Freedom Festival: Bullis on Fehmarn
Sun, adventure and a Bulli lifestyle: The Midsummer Bulli Festival attracts thousands of fans to the Isle of Fehmarn. Together they celebrated the summer solstice, their buses and stories.
Join in and help out
At the 2019 IdeenExpo in Hanover, trainees from Volkswagen show how exciting their vocational training really is.
“Define own software standards”
Volkswagen Group is increasing its capabilities in the digitization of its vehicles: the share of the software developed for cars is to rise to at least 60 percent by 2025, from ten percent today. The new “Car.Software” unit will be responsible for essential parts of software development for vehicles and cloud platforms in all brands and regions. Christian Senger, member of the board of management of Volkswagen and responsible for Digital Car & Services, explains the new software strategy.
